Automatic safety closure and container



Oct. 21; '1958 N. M. ELIAS 1 2,857,070

AUTOMATIC SAFETY CLOSURE AND CONTAINER Filed Sept. 14 1955 2 Sheets-Shee 1 INVENTOR NATHANIEL M. EL'IAS.

ATTORN J BY Oct. 21, 1958 N.- M. ELIAS AUTOMATIC SAFETY CLOSURE AND CONTAINER Filed Sept. 14, 1955' 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2 m w 0 l 0 w INVENTOR NATHANIEL M. ELIAS.

ATTORNEYS-V:

United States Patent I AUTOMATIC SAFETY CLOSURE AND CONTAINER 19 Claims. (c1.220 z4) s This invention relates to containers and the like adapted to be held in the hand, and equipped with closures there- I for, and particularly to combined automatic safety closures and containers.

The main object of my invention is to provide a simple, convenient and novel means for opening and automatically closing the same.

-Another object of my invention is to provide a containers with a special closure that forms part of the container and is capable of opening and closing according to predetermined manipulation of the container.

An ancillary object of the invention is to produce a container which may be at least partly 'distorted'manually by pressure to cause opening of the closure thereof, and capable upon release from pressure, of resuming its normal original 'shape and thereby automatically eflecting closure of said container.

It is likewise an important object of this invention to have such a special safety container which is equipped with closure means easily opened by a person aware of the proper manner of opening the container, but difiicult for both children and adults to open when ignorant of such proper manipulation.

It is in fact an object of my invention with a view to safety to have such a container with the automatic closure that'will unfailingly effect closure of the container when it has been opened properly and perhaps then left negligently about within reach of children.

A practical object is, of course to produce a special safety container along the lines already mentioned which can be made and sold at a reasonable figure so as to be I 2,857,070 ra m a Qct. n, 195s Figure'8 is a similar section to' that of Figure 7 showing the container open by. distortion caused by pressure upon the sides or bottom thereof; p

Figure'9 is likewise a vertical section ofa further modification of the container; I Figure 10 is a similar vertical section to that of Figure 9, showing the container open from pressure applied to the sides thereof; 4 h p h Figure v11 is a still further modification in vertical section, showing 'a' container with a permanently closed top opening and an automatically closed opening according to the invention;

Figure 12 is a similar section ofthe same container showing the container open by virtue of pressure applied to the sides;

tion; 7 p N Figure 14 is also a vertical section of the same container of Figure 13 showing the sides under pressure and 'the container open;

. Figure 15 is yet another modification shown in vertical section;

form of top.

in a position to compete on the market with conventional I containers of similar goods or contents.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear in greater detail as the specification proceeds.

In order to facilitate ready comprehension of this invention for a proper appreciation of the salient features thereof, the invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in which;

Figure l is a perspective view of a container equipped with an automatic safety closure made according to my invention and embodying the same in a practical form; v

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same container as tainer in distorted condition with the closure open for dispensing its contents;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the container as held in the hand with finger pressure applied to distort and thereby open the container as otherwise seen in Figure Throughout the views, thesarne reference numerals indicate the same or likeparts" and features.

In medicine, powders, pills'and'tablets are frequently sold insmall containers adapted to be held in the hand, and which havevarious conventional'fclosures, suchas corks, caps,covers and stoppers. V w more or 'lessflexible, and are made of flexible materials such as flexible or elastic plastics,'while the closu'resfare conventional as mentioned. Such containers are' capable of being distorted and squeezed for various purposes, frequently inorder to dispense some oftheir contents'under pressure but under control. fIn suchcontainerg ordb narily it is not possible to open the samewith only one hand,=and even with both hands such operation may be difficult, although it obviously should be easy and con-' venient. Furthermore, when a more orless conventional container has beenopened,;danger is immediately evidentif the stopper is overlooked and not promptly and properly replaced and the containersec'urely closed.

, Upon considering'this problem, ithas occurred tome that such a container, especially for tablets and pills, should be provided with a form of closure that is not only captive thereto, but preferably an actualpart'of the container itself, 'and capable of presenting an opening when the container is distorted by applying pressure thereto, for'dispensing contents from said container at 'will. As a result,'I have succeeded in'producinga container along the lines already mentioned, which willnow be described, in detail in the following. i

-Hence, in the practice of my' inventiomand referring also, again to the drawings, a medicine container is illustrated in Figures 1 through 5, preferably made of more or less flexible and even elastic plastic material, such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidine chloride, polybutene-or other similar plastic materials, plasticised or unplasticised, this container beingindicated at"'18. In general, this container may be rendered flexible in desirable manner, by making the top, 19 and bottom20 thick and the side panels 21, 22 and/or the front and rear panels 23, 24 relatively thin.

4, the near side of the container being removed to disclose the construction and condition of the parts;

Figure 6 is a vertical section of a modificationof the container showing a difierent closure means; I Figure 7 is another-vertical section as taken on line 7 7 in Figure 6;

Upon the inner surface of front panel 23 is formed an integral stiffening reinforcement 25'that tends to re- "s'ist distortion, while immediately beneathit is cut a, more or less straight slit 26 in this paner Other than this, there is noopening whatsoeven- When the container 18 is held in the handand-the 'fingers 27,28 applied -t'o"tlie Figure 13 is a vertical section of still another modifica- Figure 16 is anothermodification with a diiferentjtop; 25 v 7.,

Some containers are I sides 21, 22 as best seen 'in Figure 5, the front and rear panels 23 and 24 are expanded outward as shown in Figure 4, except the upper reinforced portion 25 which remains relatively undistorted, with the result .that a dispensing=opening is ifoi'med at 291m which the slit .26 hasbeen changed 'by ,the distortion of the container, .allowing tablets'30 to be dispensed from this opening. As soon as the'iingers are released from-the side panels, these and .the front andrear panels resume theiroriginal and normal shape, automatically closing slit -2'6, thus closing effectively the container as a whole.

. .In,the form of container illustrated in Figures 6, 7

.and i8, lthe.top 31 .andibottom '32 are .thickand therefore stiff, whileithe side panels 33,, 3'4 and'rear panel-35 as well as front panel 36 are'relatively thin and 'fiexible as .in :the case of .container ls just described. However, tin-stead .of having an integral thick reinforced portion upon th e front panel 36, a 'front to back connecting rod37 is secured at its .ends to the iintermediateportion's of the front and rearpanels. 'In addition, an arcuate slit 38 is cut in the :front panelpartly about rod 37, so \that when .the side panels are ,pressed as in Figure 5, for example, this slit changes into an opening '39, with the lower portions-ofthe front and rearpanels expanded as best seen in Figure 8 to allow dispensing of tablets, pellets oripills, as the case may be.

' As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the container 40 need nothavea connecting :rod interconnecting the front and rear panels, for instead, such a rod 41 may connect a .frontpanel 42 in its upper region with a relatively thicker top 43, the s'idepanels 44, rear panel 45 are also relatively thin, while the bottom 46 is thick like the top .43. Ihe slit 47Ias shown in Figure 9 becomes .the -.dispensing opening .48 of Figure 10 when the side panels .are squeezed .to buckle the rear panel 45 .an'd'lower portion .of .front panel 42 outward, the rod 41 preventing .theupper portion of the front panel from changing form, as in the caseof rod 37 preventing the upper front panel 36 from changing when container panels 33 and 34 .are subjected to pressure-as shownin Figure 8. Again,

in the container 40,- the front and rear panels and side ,panels .resume normal shape when the container is relieved from pressure, automatically restoring opening 48 to amere slit 47 and thus closing the container.

.Ln Figures 11 and 12 .is shown a container 49 of somewhat conventional form, in that it has the conventional upper neck150 which when-free from any closure forms the filling opening for introducing the .intended contents, after which a permanent cap 51 is fixed in place thereon. The top 52 with .the neck 50 is a more ,or less rigidstructure, .while the bottom 53.is thick and thus stifi asrwell, .buttheside panels 54 andSS and-the 'front panel 56, with the rear panel (not shown) are all relatively thin and therefore :flexible. Front ,panel 56 has a'high slit '57 near top 52 which changes .to a dispensing opening 58 when the-side panels are sub- .jected to lateral pressure, bulging the front wall outward as indicated at-.59. When the pressure is removed, -the.opening 58 again becomes the mere slitv57 and the container .is closed.

.The container .60 shown in Figures 13 and .14 .is somewhat similar to that shown Figures 11 and 12, except forythe .upper bottle 'neck 50 .which is omitted. The top 61 and bottom 62 are thick and thus stiff, but the side panels .62, :63 and:front panel 64.as well-as the .rearpanel (not shown) are all thin and flexible, so that the slit 65 in. front panel 64 is expanded into opening =66 when thepanel is bulged outward at67 upon lateral pressure being applied to the side panels, substantially -;as ,already described in connection with container 49 ofFigures .lland 12.

.In .Figure l:is shownasimilar containerto-GO, but ,the slit 68 is arcuate. instead of straight, all otherfeatures being same as in.container60,.the arcuate slitbecoming .ansufiicient opening for-dispensing some of the contents when the side panels 69, 70 are subjected to lateral pressure, as the top '71 and bottom 72 are thick, while the front panel 73 is, of course thin as the side panels to form a bulge as in the case of container 60 just described.

The container 74 shown in Figure 16 has a concavely arcuate or curved top 75 which is thick, as is also the bottom 76, while curved slit 77 in front panel 78 is located near the top, the front panel and side panels being relatively thin, the result of lateral pressure upon the side panels 79, 87bulging the front panel and opening the slit. It is to be noted that the curved form of the top adds to its rigidity.

Finally, the container 80 disclosed in Figure .17 has a concavely truly arcuate top 81, which, like the bottom 82 is thick for stiffness, while the side panels 83, 84 and front panel 85 are thin to be flexible and subject to distortion under pressure to bulge out part of the front panel and-enlarge .the curved slit 86 neartop 81 into a properldispensing opening, all as generally described .in connection with the previous forms of container herein.

From the foregoing, it is clear that a container-of flexible plastic may be so formed that lateral pressure will causeopeningofa mere slitinto a sulficient dispensing opening which becomes promptly and automatically closed upon release of the. container from pressure. In all the forms of container described, a definite pattern of operativenovelty emerges, principally based on the features of having a thick top, similarly thick bottom, relatively thin and therefore flexible side panels and front and rear panels, with means for stiffening a part of the front .panel and having a slit in this front panel Iclose'to the mentioned stiffening means or the thick'top of -the .container, so that the front panel in any case bulges out, at least in part to expand the slit into a dispensing opening. In every case, thecontainer resumes normal shape and condition when no longer subjected'to pressure, thus automatically elfecting closure of the container without thought or care on the part of the operator using the container..

It is to be noted that the container, with or without .using a thick .top and bottom, may nevertheless be stiffened at the top and bottom by any material such as sheet metal, wood, cardboard or even rigid plastic suitably attached, cemented or fused to the walls of the container, but in any case, the side, front and rear panels must be made of flexible material as indicated. This is thought to become so obvious as to be superfluous to illustrate upon mere mention thereof, so that it therefore forms part and parcel of the invention. Other shapes than those shown may, of course be used, so long as the principles of the invention prevail.

I have described-what I believe to be the best embodiments of .my-invention. I do not wish, however, to be .confinedto the embodiments shown, but what I desire to coverbyLetters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vcombinedautomatic safety closure and container including two discrete end portions, a bounding wall of flexible material interconnecting the end portions, said bounding wall having a slit therein adapted to form a dispensing opening upon-application of pressure upon the bounding wall and automatically closing upon removal of pressure, and means for preventing part of the bounding wall .adjacent the slit from becoming appreciably distorted whenpressure is applied to the bounding wall, last-named means including a connecting rod fixed at one .end to the-portion of the bounding wall adjacent to the slit and at the other end to another portion of the container.

2. A combined automatic safety closure and container according to claim 1, wherein the slit is disposed close to one end portion.

3. A combined automatic safety closure and container according to claim .1, wherein .the slit is arcuate inform.

4. A combined automatic safety closure and container according to claim 1, wherein the container is a unitary article made of a plastic material selected from the class, consisting of polyethylene, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl chloride, copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, poly butene and butene copolymers, and synthetic elastic polymers.

5. A combined automatic safety closure and container according to claim 1, wherein the slit is positioned substantially adjacent one end portion of the container thereby preventing the portion of the slit adjacent the said end from being distorted when pressure is applied to the bounding wall.

6. A combined automatic safety closure and container according to claim 1, wherein the container has a distinct filling opening sealed upon filling of the container but independent of the slit in the bounding wall which forms the dispensing opening at will.

7. A combined automatic safety closure and container according to claim 1, wherein the bounding wall includes side panels, a front panel and rear panel, said slit being on the front panel and said end portions being made of a flexible plastic material sufiiciently thick to be stilf and generally free from distortion when the side panels are subjected to lateral pressure and the rear panel and at least part of the front panel adjacent to the slit are distorted to expand the slit into a dispensing opening, one of the thick end portions being curved from one end to the other.

8. A combined automatic safety closure and container according to claim 7, wherein the thick end portions include a top portion and bottom portion, said top end portion being concavely arcuate in form from one side panel to the other side panel, and wherein the slit is located adjacent to the deeply curved portion.

9. A combined automatic safety closure and container according to claim 1, wherein one end of the connecting rod is fixed to the portion of the bounding wall adjacent the slit and the other end of the connecting rod is fixed to one of the end portions.

10. A combined automatic safety closure and container according to claim 1, wherein one end of the connecting rod is fixed to the portion of the bounding wall adjacent the slit and the other end of the connecting rod is fixed to the bounding wall opposite the slit.

11. A combined automatic safety closure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the slit between the ends thereof and which is formed in the bounding wall, is appreciably smaller than the width of the bounding wall in a plane with the ends of the slit.

12. A combined automatic safety closure and container including top and bottom end portions, a bounding wall interconnecting the top and bottom end portions, said bounding wall including two side panels, a front panel and a rear panel made of flexible plastic material capable of distortion under pressure, said top and bottom end portions made of flexible plastic material sufiiciently thick to be stiff and free from distortion when the side panels are subjected to lateral pressure and the rear panel and at least part of the front panel adjacent the slit are distorted to expand the slit into a dispensing opening, a transverse slit in the front panel, a connecting rod fixed at one end to a portion of the bounding wall adjacent the slit on the front panel and fixed at its other according to claim 13, wherein the slit is disposed close to the top end portion.

15. A combined automatic safety closure and container including two discrete end portions, a bounding wall of flexible material interconnecting the end portions, said bounding wall being substantially flat and having an elongated opening therein normally traversing only a portion of said wall with opposed edges thereof disposed in substantially abutting relationship and adapted to form a dispensing opening upon application of pressure on the bounding wall and automatically closing upon removal of such pressure, and means for making a first part of the bounding wall adjacent one edge of the opening less resilient than a second part of the bounding wall adjacent the other edge of the opening to retain the first part in an appreciably undistorted condition and keep it less distorted than the second part when pressure is applied to the bounding wall.

16. A combined automatic safety closure and container including two discrete end portions, a bounding wall of flexible material interconnecting the end portions, said bounding wall having one flat surface thereof with an elongated opening therein with the opposed edges thereof being in abutting relationship but spaced from one another normally traversing only a portion of said wall, and means for making a first part of the bounding Wall adjacent one edge of the opening stiffer than a second part of the bounding wall adjacent the other edge of the opening to prevent said one edge of said opening from becoming distorted as much in one direction as the opposed abutting edge when pressure is applied to the bounding wall.

17. A flexible container of substantially fixed self sustaining outline including a slit cut into a substantially fiat face of the container and normally traversing only a portion of said face, means to maintain one side of said slit in its original container wall configuration, said container being deformable under pressure in the location of the other side of said slit to displace this side and open the container.

18. A flexible container according to claim 17, wherein said slit configuration maintaining means is the top of said container.

19. A flexible container according to claim 17, including a separate fill opening for said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 496,610 Hurlbut May 2, 1893 820,067 Richardson May 8, 1906 907,875 Pritchard Dec. 29, 1908 FOREIGN PATENTS 188,265 Great Britain Nov. 9, 1922 

